For Ohio State this season, it appears that what goes down must come up.

Twice, the Buckeyes have lost and hopes have been dashed. Twice, a combination of their wins and
others' losses has resurrected hope.

So it is that heading into today's game at Illinois, 10th-ranked OSU (8-2, 5-1) once again has
its destiny largely in its own control. Win their final two games and the Buckeyes will be fitted
for Big Ten championship rings as co-champs.

"I just feel like we're happy to have it back in our hands, and not waiting on everybody else to
lose or some things to happen," cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "But now it's back in our hands:
All we have to do is win our games."

Jenkins is mostly right. Wins today and next week against Michigan would ensure the Buckeyes a
share of the Big Ten crown. A 10-2 OSU team could snag a Bowl Championship Series at-large
berth.

But the Buckeyes would have to await the outcome of the Nov. 22 Michigan State-Penn State game
to determine their fate. A Michigan State win would send OSU to the Rose Bowl, as the Buckeyes
would win the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Spartans.

Illinois (5-5, 3-3) has had a disappointing season, but it has something to play for today, as
well. Speculation is that the Illini, with flashy quarterback Juice Williams, would get a bowl bid
even if they split their final two games (they close at Northwestern next week).

OSU got back in the Rose Bowl mix last week when Iowa upset Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions
their first Big Ten loss.

The Buckeyes had just arrived back in Columbus from Northwestern and were riding the bus from
the airport to their practice facility when they heard the news of Iowa's victory.

"You could see that piqued interest, because all of a sudden you're ostensibly back with a shot,
if you do your work," coach Jim Tressel said.

And that, of course, is the key -- if OSU does its work. The pattern for the Buckeyes this
season has been to lose their showdown games but get back in it by avoiding upset losses and
benefiting when teams ahead of them lose.

A 35-3 loss to Southern California in September seemed to ruin OSU's national title hopes. But
five straight wins propelled the Buckeyes back up to ninth nationally heading into the Oct. 25 game
against third-ranked Penn State.

The 13-6 loss to the Nittany Lions slammed the door on the national title and put the Buckeyes a
game back in the Big Ten with three weeks to go. And then came the Penn State loss at Iowa.

So this is the third time OSU has been handed an opportunity. Now all the Buckeyes have to do is
not blow it a third time.

"It goes back to what were we going to do after that Penn State game?" tight end Rory Nicol
said. "We were going to get better and win our last three games, because that's all that mattered.
That's all we can do."

Since losing to Penn State, Tressel has stressed the importance of November. His teams are 21-4
in the month, and have missed out on a New Year's Day bowl just once in his seven seasons.

"Typically, if you go through history, the team that takes care of business in November usually
ends up feeling good about the result," he said.

The Buckeyes opened the month with a statement victory at Northwestern, 45-10. They will be
heavily favored next week against Michigan -- assuming they win today.

"When it gets colder, we play harder," quarterback Terrelle Pryor said. "They say November
decides where you go, and that's it, point-blank, period."